Mr & Mrs Unique Wedding & Lifestyle Magazine Spring/Summer 2015

UNIQUE WEDDINGS INSPIRATION STYLE LOVE

Photo by Alexa Loy Photography

weDDinG AnD liFesTYle MAGAZine

ISSUE 003

SPRING/SUMMER 2015

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Erica Willoughby Smith

mrandmrsunique

Mr & Mrs Unique Mr & Mrs Unique celebrates the unusual, the quirky, the interesting and above all the unique aspects to weddings that so many couples seek these days; offering a colourful array of some of the very best UK wedding suppliers; a blend of the extraordinary, talented, crazy & downright amazing!

Not only do we cherry pick the very best unique, eclectic and creative wedding services, our business has grown considerably to include a successful

directory, a resourceful wedding and lifestyle blog, visual and inspirational online bi-annual magazine, supplier workshops and Tie The Knot- The Unique & Eclectic Wedding Carnival.

We aim to feature only the most unique services from the best suppliers across the UK. Businesses that are committed to the highest quality of products and service, integrity and value; ones that can demonstrate that their uniqueness is in keeping with the Mr & Mrs Unique seal of approval.

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS If you are interested in joining Mr & Mrs Unique and have a service that would be of interest to couples that look for something a bit different and outside the box, please email us info@mrandmrsunique.co.uk or follow our guidelines here 2

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Message from The Editor

Photo by Jessica Withey Photography

Erica Willoughby-Smith Founder and creative director of Mr & Mrs Unique directory, blog, magazine and co-organiser of Tie The Knot Wedding Carnival Hello!

Welcome back to our third edition of our Mr & Mrs Unique Wedding Magazine, which is choc full of inspirational wedding ideas and unique suppliers that you can use for your own big day.

This edition brings you tons of beautiful and creative weddings, DIY projects, recipe ideas, creative bridal shoots, plus advice and guidance from the people in the know; our lovely suppliers.

I’m pleased to say that this magazine is now available to download through our new Mr & Mrs Unique iTunes app.

You can also buy a printed version of this magazine if you are looking for a pretty hard copy for your home.

A huge thank you to Katerina from Rhubka Design for the artwork and to everyone that has contributed to this Spring/Summer edition‌ Enjoy!

Erica xx

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Photo by Binky Nixon Photography

Mr & Mrs Unique- Wedding Directory, Blog & Online Magazine You can find us here:

Visit the Directory

Visit the Blog 4

www.mrandmrsunique.co.uk Mr & Mrs Unique Wedding Directory cherry picks the very best unique, eclectic and creative wedding services across the UK. Ideal if you’re looking for inspiration or suppliers in your area for your big day.

www.mrandmrsuniqueweddingblog.co.uk For wedding inspiration and a behind the scenes look at what our suppliers get up to.

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CONTENTS Jess & Kev............................................ 6 Binky Nixon Photography

Lou & Ben...........................................70 Binky Nixon Photogarphy

Springtime Blooms..........................20 Arcade Flowers

DIY Bubble Lettering......................82 Fleur de Lace

Goan-Style Pork Curry..................22 Main Ingredient

Nikki & George................................. 84 Dewsall Court

Flora & Fauna...................................24 Alexa Loy Photography

Scandinavian Tipi Wedding Inspiration......................100 Kate Cullen & Paolo de Paola Photography

Cocktail Recipes .............................42 Salts of the Earth Mixologists In Paris, in love.................................44 Sharon Cooper Photography Mini Bunting DIY..............................52 H-Coo Events

Boho Bridal Make-up...................104 Zoe Cornwall MUA Unique Gifts for the Bridal Party..............................106 Wedding in a Teacup

Beckie & Paul....................................56 Silver Star Photography

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Jess & Kev

Photos and Words by Binky Nixon Photography www.binkynixon.com

Binky…‘I didn’t actually meet Jess & Kev for a chat prior to their engagement shoot, so when I rocked up in Shoreditch and saw two super smiley faces, bright funky clothes and a pair that were up for anything, I knew we were going to have a blast. I totally loved what they chose to do for their engagement shoot so expected nothing less than a fabulous day for their wedding. It was certainly that, bright, colourful, musical, serious when it needed to be, emotional, decked out beautifully and mostly a room filled with people that adored one another.

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Jess, maids and all the kids got ready at a private apartment at the St Pancras hotel, it was jaw droppingly beautiful and such a lovely space for her to spend time with her important girls in the lead up to the day.

They then headed to church where they pledged their vows before heading on to an amazing warehouse.

My good friend Charlie (owner of The Flower Fairies) is sister to the bride, so naturally had decked the place out with stunning flower arrangements. They had gone for brights everywhere, with lots of music, delicious Caribbean cuisine and a super laid back atmosphere.

Jess and Kev asked nothing from me, they let me crack on with the photography, doing my thing and telling the story of their day. It was like my dream wedding to shoot; a great atmosphere, lots of characters, colour, personality, beautiful decor and a fabulous couple that did it THEIR way!! If Carslberg made weddings......x SPRING/SUMMER 2015 | MR & MRS UNIQUE

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Springtime Blooms

Don’t restrict us, trust us!

Words and flowers by Arcade Flowers - www.arcadeflowers.co.uk Photography by Abi Chadwick – www.abichadwickweddings.com

If you would like to have the ultimate in unique bouquets, especially made for you, then the answer is simple. You need to find a florist you trust.

As florists we scan the markets for the best seasonal blooms and quite honestly, although we have a rough idea, we never quite know just when some cheeky lovely floral chaps will be flowering. Our flowers are sourced from local gardens from passionate growers, and from as far as Columbia and Asia. Very often we see amazing little specimens that are unusually available out of the predicted season and we want to put them in your bouquet! I guess what I am saying is don’t restrict us, trust us!

somebody that says what you want to hear. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, to check out their reviews, their website, visit them, talk to them and make that link. And then if you feel that they are the right fit, say I do!

We don’t expect you to be the expert in the Latin names of various flora. You are the expert in how you would like your wedding to feel and look. We always ask our clients to bring images of everything they love, all things weddingy and that way we can truly proverbially slip into your wedding dress and saunter around.

A florist is a designer and although the majority of questions should be about the flowers, they should also get to know the feel of your wedding.

Their job is to create the ultimate floral decoration that will give you the look you are after and the ambiance you dream of. Surely this can only be done when taking into consideration the whole of your wedding, the setting, the dress, the invites, the music. Let them know about it all and sit back and watch them get creative.

We are always honest with our clients. The thing is, flowers for your wedding are not about the big sale. There needs to be trust, and you can’t just trust SPRING/SUMMER 2015 | MR & MRS UNIQUE

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Goan-Style Pork Curry Recipe Words & Recipe by Main Ingredient Fresh stunning street food from around the globe, served from their hatch. www.mainingredient.co.uk Serves 4 2-3 red chillies (dried or fresh) 1 tsp black pepper corns (or ground black pepper) 1 tsp cardamom seeds/powder 7 cm cinnamon stick or ( 2tsp ground cinnamon) 1 tsp black mustard seeds or 1 dessert spoon of mustard oil 1 tsp fenugreek seeds 2 tsp cumin seeds 1/2 tsp turmeric powder 2 tsp coriander seeds / powder

5 tbsp wine vinegar or palm vinegar if you can find it at an Asian store 1 tsp salt 1 tsp light brown sugar 3 cm ginger 200g onions 1 bulb garlic light oil or ghee to fry 6 tbsp water + another 250 ml or chicken stock 1kg pork shoulder steaks cut into cubes

Photography: www.stevelancefield.co.uk

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Pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees centigrade Chop the onion, garlic and ginger. Fry until brown then place into a food processor with a little water and process to a paste.

Cut the pork shoulder steaks into cubes.

Finely grind all the spices together in a pestle and mortar, then add the vinegar, salt and sugar to the spice powder and mix to a paste and set aside.

Using the same pan add a little more oil over medium heat. Add the onion ginger & garlic paste, Add the spice paste to this mixture heat gently.

Add the pork and any juices and the remaining water/stock. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover with tin foil and a tightly fitting lid and cook in the oven for approx 2 hours until melting.

Serve with rice and natural yoghurt and a sprinkling of fresh mint.

Heat some oil in heavy based casserole pan over a medium-high heat add the pork cubes and fry until golden brown on each side.

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Flora & Fauna Bridal Shoot at Dewsall Court

Art Direction by Erica at Mr & Mrs Unique Photography by Alexa Loy Photography www.alexa-loy.com

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Credit Team: Art Direction & Styling: Erica from Mr & Mrs Unique

Table Styling: Kate Cullen

Photography: Alexa Loy Photography

Stationery: Dearly Beloved Design

Venue & Food: Dewsall Court

Car: Kushi Cars

Dresses:

Tattoos: The Aviary

Gold Dress: Wilden Bride

Marshmallows: The London Marshmallow Company

Floral Dress & Bunny Ears: Ears & Whiskers

PomPom Flowers: PomPom Blossom

Gold Crown & Bow Headband: Lizzie McQuade

Second shooter: Jessica Withey Photography

Bridal Separates: Loriex

Make Up: Naomi Emmauelle

Cake: Nevie-Pie Cakes

Hair: Love Bridal Beauty

Flowers: Wild Bunch

Model: Maria at Alpha Agency

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Salts of the Earth

Cocktail Recipies Cocktails Designed and Created by the Salts of the Earth Mixologists www.saltsoftheearth.co.uk

Salts of the Earth are a cocktail and bar consultancy that has worked with many different companies such as Drake and Morgan, Spotify, FM group and many more.

They provide exciting cocktails for events but they also own a bar in Brixton called the Shrub and Shutter. Since opening six months ago they have received some wonderful reviews and been featured in many different publications; from being in the Top 10 Bars in London, to having one of London’s best ‘meaty’ cocktails.

Kale Ceaser 50ml Jam Jar Gin 50ml tomato consomme 25ml pink grapefruit juice 3 dashes of hellboy bitters 25ml lemon juice 15ml Dill shrub 2 sprigs of dill Salt and pepper Combine all ingredients in a shaker and gently shake. Only trying to chill the drink, not make ice shards. Pour the contents into a large glass.

Garnish with two dehydrated tomato crisps and kale crisps.

Photos by We Heart Pictures

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Queen Vic’s Strawberry and Lavender Cheesecake 50ml Warner and Edwards Victoria Rhubarb Gin 15ml Wild strawberry puree 15ml Lavender and rhubarb shrub 10ml lavender liqueur 3 dashes of rhubarb bitters 20ml lemon juice 15ml sugar syrup Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake hard.

Double strain into a copper mug.

Garnish with strawberries, lavender, strawberry jelly and a mint sprig.

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in paris, in love Words and pictures by Sharon Cooper Photography www.sharoncooper.co.uk

I really enjoyed meeting up with Faustine and Tanguy for their engagement shoot. This shoot was in Paris’s Marchés aux Puces, an amazing and quirky flea market with lots of colourful graffiti.

Pre wedding shoots are all about feeling relaxed and having fun in front of the camera, something a lot of us aren’t!

Most people will admit to being apprehensive, nervous even, that’s understandable. Your personalities will come out, I don’t make you do anything you are not happy with.

I make these sessions fun and light hearted and I cant tell you how many times my couples tell me they enjoyed the session and then say they can’t wait to do it all again on their wedding day. That’s what its all about!

If you’ve booked Sharon for pre wedding session, here are a few tips from her on the subject!

HELP! What should we wear?

Wear something you feel smart in, but relaxed, comfortable and avoid bulky coats (if possible) and clothing with big logos across.

I love colour, so yeah, the more colourful the better, you will stand out whatever our backdrop!

All your locations look ace – we don’t know where to have our ours!

I always ask what the two of you like doing, or where you go together. Whether you have a favourite beauty spot, love baking, walking your dog, or enjoy art galleries, it’s all possible. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable at all. I love urban backdrops,

I’m forever a location scout, always looking for great places so I’m happy to come up with suggestions too.

What time should we meet and for how long?

If we cannot meet midweek, I suggest late morning on a Sunday or an hour before sunset, for that sweet golden light. We can have a catch up about your wedding plans too and grab a coffee!

We will be all done in under two hours and you will be heading home, chatting excitedly about the fun you had and enjoying new excitement for your approaching wedding!

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Questions for F&T What made you choose your location?

We both live in Paris, Tanguy works at Marches aux Puces selling contemporary art from his gallery.

The market is a lovely curious place; you can spend hours browsing all the different quirky stalls. There’s a buzzing lively atmosphere and a labyrinth of unusual shops, which make up the flea market. Stalls of old vintage collectibles over-spilling on the street, young people looking for something unusual for their homes and tourists looking for original furniture or contemporary art.

We love this area and chose it because it was more interesting and representative of us rather than a classic typical Parisian area.

How did you enjoy the session?

It was our first photo shoot, we were a little bit shy at the beginning but Sharon helped us feel comfortable, Sharon had a couple of fun things she made us do that really relaxed us, we ended up just enjoying it and laughed together. It was a very good experience!

Tell us about your engagement?

We have known each other for 7 years, we have lived together for 7 years and we have been our happiest for those 7 years :-) A few months ago Tanguy gave me the nicest surprise anyone could ever give! We were away in Burgundy, we spent the evening on a secluded floating cabin in the middle of a lake when

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suddenly, fireworks started, I watched in wonder, listening to our favourite song in the background, at first I didn’t notice, but put a knee on the ground… I still have goose bumps thinking about it. The evening was magical, all my favourite things, (not easy to find!) from flowers to appetizer to dessert! Our story and our love continues to grow, our lives are full of projects we want to do, and millions of things to talk about. The hours, days, weeks and months pass by, we are lucky we each found our soul mate - we are the happiest couple in the world to be getting married.

What advice do you have for other couples who are nervous of having a pre wedding shoot?

I think its important that you feel confortable with the way you are dressed, and the place where you choose to have your shoot. It is not always easy when there are a lot of people around you,

sometimes looking at you, but just remember what is important: your love is just beside or in front of you and if you focus on him/ her, you can be sure to capture your emotions and have great memories of you two.

Just enjoy the moment, have fun and Sharon will do the rest!

Anything you are wishing for on your wedding day?

We are getting married in western part of France on an island, it is well known for being a rainy area!

We have our fingers crossed for sunshine!

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Mini Bunting DIY

By Elizabeth from H-Coo Events www.hcooevents.co.uk

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Quick and easy to make, with no sewing involved! As it’s mini you may even have little bits of fabric lying around you could use, the pink candy stripe fabric was a pillow case I found in a charity shop. I’ve used cotton and poly cottons, mixing a ditsy print with stripes and bright colours.

The beauty is you can tailor it to your colour scheme and it’s so much quicker than making the larger sewn bunting. It’s a fun & cute way to decorate various things from signs, card trunks, cake tables to cake toppers secured with wooden rods or paper straws. The possibilities are endless and all you will need is: Fabric Cord Iron on Fusible/Bond Web Tailor Chalk/Pen Iron

Scissors Card Fine/3mm knitting needle (optional but recommended)

Step 1. Make a triangle template out of card. Approximately 4cm wide and 4cm long.

Cut out and place to one side.

Step 2. Cut your fabric into strips 10-12cm wide. Fold the fabric in half, length ways and iron.

Step 3. Cut a piece of fusible web to fit inside the folded fabric piece. Place on the fabric leaving a gap at the top of the fold. Later on this is where the cord will be slotted through so If the cord is 2mm wide the gap will need to be 4mm. Iron the piece to bond. Do this to all of your fabric pieces.

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Step 4. Using the triangle template, position the template with the base of the triangle lined up with the folded edge. Mark around the template with the chalk, then cut along the marked line. You now have your first bunting piece! Continue.

Step 5. When you have enough pieces (half a dozen of each fabric is plenty) arrange in an order you are happy with and place in a pile.

Step 6. The final stage can be a little fiddly! To help make sure you have enough space to thread your cord through your fabric triangles a 3mm knitting needle is a handy tool to use, poke through the gap to prep.

Now you are ready to thread the cord through the mini bunting triangles. Tacking a sewing needle onto the end of the cord can also assist with threading the bunting, it is best if the fit is snug. You can also attach a little tape at the end of the cord which helps with this stage.

Tah daa, Mini Bunting complete!

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The fi ne st col l ect i on of be a ut i fu l t e n t s From simple marquee hire to bespoke event solutions

“Thanks for all your help - the evening was sensational!”

Available throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Head Office: +44 (0) 1892 725489 www.lpmbohemia.com Traditional Canvas Pole Tents | Indian Marquees Boutique Camping | Yurts | Tipis | Grand Pavilion | The Orangery

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Beckie and Paul Photography by SilverStar Photographic www.silverstarphotographic.co.uk

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Photography: Silverstar Photographic

Groom’s Bowtie: Pinch and Pull

Ceremony Venue: Blackfriars Priory

Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Coast

Reception Venue: Over Barn

Cakes: DIY

Bride’s Dress: The Couture Company

Flowers: The Rose Shed

Bride’s Shoes: Irregular Choice

Catering: Cater Cater

Bride’s Headpiece: DIY

DJ: Disco Wed

Hair & Make Up: Le Keux Vintage Salon

Transport: Comfy Campers

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Lou and Ben Photography: Binky Nixon Photography www.binkynixon.com

Tell us how you met and got engaged…

We met at school, Ben was the year above me and I always liked him, but it wasn’t till 4 years later we got together after bumping into each other on a night out.

We got engaged in Goa in December 2012, it was so special, on a rickety bridge over a lake, with both his hands held into fists, he told me to choose a hand- Ben is a bit of a pranker, and always tries to scare me so i was a bit worried as it would probably be a cockroach or something horrid, but no, he got down on one knee and proposed!

It was such a surprise! We kissed and turned around to be greeted by an explosion of fireworks- that Ben had not organised, it was just perfect timing

knocking down the Piñata, photo booth was in full swing and the sack races were happening.

What was your biggest expense…

Our venue, but was absolutely worth it and very reasonable.

How was your day unique…

Our wedding was unique as we had a humanist ceremony, Zena our celebrant was amazing the service was totally to our taste and us! Instead of a hymn we sung Anchorman’s afternoon delight!

How did you save money…

I have my own cake business a little piece of cupcake, so I did my own cake table. We searched through many car boot sales for little touches and vintage plates, I made meters of lace bunting with old net curtains, hessian cutlery pouches, paper flowers the list is endless!

Food wise we had the taco truck rock up and serve us some amazing Mexican food.

What was your budget…

We didn’t want to spend too much on our wedding day so did a lot of crafting and collecting ourselves our budget was £10,000 but think we may have gone £1000 over.

What were your main hopes…

Our main hope was that it would stay dry as we were getting married on the lawn under a willow tree; there was no plan b! We also wanted a relaxed atmosphere that our guests would enjoy.

Was your favourite part of the day…

Apart from the ceremony my favourite part was after dinner while we were having a drink and ice cream in the bridal garden.

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Advice to any couples about to get married…

Do what you want to do, its your day!! Get the best photographer you can afford. Use pinterest as it will give you great ideas and show you how to achieve them.

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Wedding Venue & Reception: Nether Winchendon House Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal Flowers: The Flower Fairies Stationery: Lucy Says I Do Cake: A Little Piece of Cupcake DĂŠcor: Bride and also Sew by Alex Food: Tacotruck & Elsies-Ices Celebrant: Zena Birch Music: Disco Shed

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DIY Bubble lettering

by Fleur De Lace

www.fleurdelace.co.uk

Step by step tutorial

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Nikki and George Photographs by: Alexa Loy Photography www.alexa-loy.com

Wedding Venue & Reception: Battersea Arts Centre How would you describe your wedding theme?

The Wild Rock Forest Library What were your main hopes for the day?

We wanted the ceremony to be beautiful and special and for everyone, including us to have a really relaxed, fun day.

How was your day unique?

A little help from our friends!

One of our best friends, Lucy Ayrton is a poet, and she wrote and performed a beautiful poem as a reading. George’s brothers played music as I came down the aisle (which incidentally was the staircase behind rather than past everyone), and we formed a family band for the first few songs after the speeches. Another talented friend drew our invitation and one of the best men designed our menu, table plan, etc. One of my oldesty family friends is a professional make-up artist so she did my and the bridesmaids’ make-up as her wedding present to us. Even our tablecloths were

hand-made by a lovely friend who couldn’t be there on the day, and George’s aunt made our amazing 3-tier chocolate cake.

What was your budget?

We found a helpful article online that suggested an average UK wedding spend and then we allowed it to creep a little over that…we spent more on the things we cared about and cut the things we didn’t.

What was your biggest expense?

The venue, technically, but it felt like the flowers. Our florist was amazing and created two ‘trees’ for us to get married under, as well as providing the slightly unkempt natural wild meadow look that we wanted, but it felt like a huge cost.

How did you save money?

For favours we gathered a hundred second hand books one per guest. We wrapped them using wallpaper offcuts, which is a brilliant source of cheap but pretty paper, and then we wrote a personalized message in every single one. It took us ages, but it was totally worth it, as we got to tell each and every person why he

or she were important to us in a way they could keep. It was also a little nod to my lovely mum, who passed away 3 years ago.

She loved giving books as gifts and always scribbled a handwritten message on the inside cover.

Advice to any couples about to get married…

If you have a civil ceremony, you’re allowed to quite heavily edit the registrar’s speech. We made sure the language treated us as equals, and also put the kiss right at the end of the ceremony like it is in the films!

Also, spend money where it’s important to you, and don’t where it’s not. Do you really need professionally designed Save the Dates rather than an email?

Wouldn’t you rather have more booze and a live band!

Use suppliers you like and trust – our photographer, florist and caterer completely understood that we wanted something quite unique. Lots of our other ‘suppliers’ were friends, family and people who really know us.

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Wedding Venue & Reception: Battersea Arts Centre Accessories: Jewellery from Fur Coat No Knickers Flowers: Apothecary’s Flower Company Stationery: Home made and the best man Ricardo Cake: George’s Aunty Caroline Hair: Hayley Chapman Band: The In-Laws (and us!)

Caterer: Daksha Mistry Supporting Photographer: Nisha Rabji Photography

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Scandinavian Tipi Wedding Inspiration Words and styling by Kate Cullen, photos by Paola De Paola Photography www.katecullen.co.uk www.paoladepaolaweddings.com The World Inspired Tents open weekend at the Burford Garden Company in the Cotswolds was the perfect opportunity for a styled shoot. The shape of the tipis and the wonderful internal structure lends a natural geometry that was the basis for the shoot theme - working with the triangles and natural Nordic heritage was the perfect springboard for our ideas.

I wanted the look to be very detail focused, from the gilded succulents, nail art, paper garlands, napkins, geometric jewellery, shoe and cake details through to the hair and make up and choice of dresses. The stationery was another opportunity to reflect the geometric concept – the fortuneteller menus were

the perfect extra touch. The white, green and gold tableware provided another layer to the overall feel, and the soft furnishings and baskets borrowed from the garden centre worked really well with the rustic breads and canapés.

Colour scheme: Cool Nordic blues, off whites and copper accents.

Theme: Scandinavian touches with air plants and succulents, triangular geometrics, copper, and natural wood. Pared back feel with a focus on the natural beauty of the tipis. A reflection on the original heritage and environment of the tipis.

The Team: Photographer: Paola de Paola Photography Tipis: World Inspired Tents Venue: Burford Garden Centre Wedding Stylist: Kate Cullen Stationery: Dotty Pink Designs Florist: Acacia Floristry Cakes: Made by Marie Green Catering: Parsnip Mash Make Up: Heidi Vince Bella Bridal Hair: Hair by Sandie Dresses: Days of Grace Model: Zoe Huckerby Paper Garlands: Things By Laura Tableware: Whitehouse Crockery Nail Art: Metamorphosis Beauty Jewellery: Wolf & Moon Napkins: Gilded Linens Shoes: Charlotte Mills Bridal

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Boho Bridal Make-Up‌

Summer Looks

Words & Make Up by Zoe Cornwell MUA. Photos By Jessica Withey Photography www.zoecornwellmakeupartist.com

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This year is all about the Bohemian Brides and as a Bridal Make-Up Artist, I couldn’t be happier about this trend! Why? Because Bohemian Beauty is all about being natural, and natural NEVER goes out of fashion.

Highlight your cheek bones, inner eye area and cupids bow for that fresh youthful look.

My key tips for creating these look are:

And finally, work with neutral tones on the eyes, shading with a brown tone for definition on camera without it being overbearing.

Moisturise well and add a great primer to give an all over ‘smoothing effect’ before applying foundation.

Use a good quality blending brush to buff the foundation into the skin. Using a good foundation brush leaves us with beautifully soft and a natural finish to skin- perfect for brides!

Conceal any dark circles or blemishes with your concealer then add a light translucent powder to take away any shine.

Use soft peach and pink tones on your cheeks and lips for added girliness.

Add some flowers to your hair and your look is set.

Bohemian Beauty eat your heart out!

Flowers: Early Hours Ltd Dress on left: Elizabeth Stuart Rings: Folly Boutique Models: Sophie R & Amy F from Alpha Agency

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Unique Gifts for the Bridal Party Words and gifts by Wedding in a Teacup www.weddinginateacup.co.uk

We know that the wedmin can be quite overwhelming when planning your big day. We say: rope in as many people as you can to help you, and make that planning list as short as it can be, too! Will your guests really notice if the pink of your favours exactly matches the pink of your invitations? Probably not, so do try not to sweat the small stuff…

One thing that we’d advise not skipping, though, is thank you gifts for the bridal party. Not only will the act of giving fill everyone involved with a warm and fuzzy feeling, it’s also a chance to really thank those who have helped you with your wedding - and your life! Make the gift something they can treasure, that will remind them of that special time you shared…

Maid of Honour & Bridesmaids Your bridesmaids are probably going to be the ladies you lean on most throughout the big build up and on the day itself. Helping you make all those decisions, mucking in with all that work, calming you down, and holding up your dress when you pee! Take the opportunity to thank them with a truly special gift. Jewellery is always ‘right’. A dainty sterling silver necklace can accommodate all tastes, be worn as they go down the aisle, and will last on to be loved afterwards. Choosing a necklace that reflects your day makes the gift extra special – a seahorse for a beach wedding or a bee for a summery, outdoors affair.

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Parents Your parents have been there since day one and this is a hugely special day for them too! Commemorate the occasion with something that proudly declares their status as mother or father of the bride or groom, and lasts way longer than a bunch of flowers. Handmade mugs are a lovely but practical gift that will bring a smile to their face with every cuppa. Combine them with a hand-stamped ‘I love you’ teaspoon and you’re onto a winner!

The Young Ones Giving children a role to play on the day – ring bearer, confetti thrower, page boy or flower girl – makes them feel really special and included. Then they’re less likely to become bored and restless, and more likely to behave like little angels! Cute gifts declaring their status (flower girl bags, or page boy cufflinks) will make them beam with pride and the gifts will create a wonderful photo too …

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Best Man & Ushers Best men and ushers can prove a bit more difficult to buy for than your maids - something practical and a bit tongue in cheek will hit the spot! Handmade cufflinks declaring their official status can be given to them on the morning of the wedding, to be worn throughout the day. They’re the perfect, stylish finishing touches - and they’ll remind the wearers of all their duties and responsibilities!

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And last but not least, the man you plan to spend the rest of your life with…

If you’re spending your wedding night apart, we adore the idea of giving your hubby to be a card and gift to be opened on the morning of the wedding. It’s hard not seeing each other for those first few hours so a love note makes all the difference! Team it with a pair of ‘see you at the altar’ cufflinks so he can pop them on and feel that you’re there with him while he’s greeting your guests and waiting for you to arrive and your forever to start!

Aaaw!

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Tie The Knot The Unique & Eclectic Wedding Carnival

Sunday 10th May 2015 10am-3pm Free Entry The Walled Garden, Hexton Manor, Hexton, Hertfordshire SG5 3JH Meet the suppliers, taste the treats, Inspirational ideas, marquees, live music, DJs, cake bakers, wedding planners, street food sellers & caterers, photographers, stationery, styling & props, florists, hair & make up, bridal wear & accessories www.hextonmanor.co.uk

Presented by

www.binkynixon.com

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Op deta onta lease e n ils o ct us W f our for e e ne k e xt nd

www.mr&mrsunique.co.uk

nickreaderphotography.com

Giant Nordic tipis for magical weddings and events A flexible and contemporary alternative to traditional marquees from our multi-award winning team.

01271 851160

www.worldinspiredtents.co.uk

info@world-inspired.co.uk

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